A27017:1900
The Saints' Everlasting Rest
The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is showed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by Rob. White for Thomas Underhil and Francis Tyton, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If I were as verily persuaded, that I shall shortly see those great things of Eternity, promised in the Word, as I am, that this is a chair that I sit in, or that this is paper that I write on; would it not put another Spirit within me? would it not make me forget, and despise the world? and even forget to sleep,1 or to eat? And say (as Christ) I have meat to eat, that ye know not of. O, Sirs, you little know what a through belief would work. Not that every one hath such affections, who hath a true Faith: But thus would the acting and improvement of our Faith advance us.
If I were as verily perswaded, that I shall shortly see those great things of Eternity, promised in the Word, as I am, that this is a chair that I sit in, or that this is paper that I write on; would it not put another Spirit within me? would it not make me forget, and despise the world? and even forget to sleep,1 or to eat? And say (as Christ) I have meat to eat, that ye know not of. O, Sirs, you little know what a through belief would work. Not that every one hath such affections, who hath a true Faith: But thus would the acting and improvement of our Faith advance us.
Therefore let this be a chief part of thy business in Meditation. Produce the strong Arguments for the Truth of Scripture; plead them against thy unbelieving nature; answer, and silence all the cavils of infidelity: Read over the Promises; study all confirming Providences; call forth thine own recorded experiences: Remember the Scriptures already fulfilled; both to the Church and Saints in former ages, and eminently to both in this present age; and those that have been fulfilled particularly to thee: Get ready the clearest and most convincing Arguments, and keep them by thee, and frequently thus use them. Think it not enough, that thou wast once convinced, though thou hast now forgot the Arguments that did it; no, nor that thou hast the Arguments still in thy Book, or in thy Brain: This is not the acting of thy Faith; but present them to thy understanding in thy frequent meditations, and urge them home, till they force belief. Actual convincing, when it is clear and frequent, will work those deep impressions on the heart, which an old neglected forgotten conviction will not. O, if you would not think it enough, that you have Faith in the habit, and that you did once believe, but would be daily setting this first wheel a going: Surely, all the inferior wheels of the Affections would more easily move. Never expect to have Love and Joy move, when the foregoing Grace of Faith stands still.